Gift Guides Archives - Etsy Manchester

Luxe Christmas Gifts

Baiba Auria of Egoiste Gallery chooses her favourite luxury Christmas gifts to help you really spoil your loved ones!

I am Baiba Auria, and I am a portrait artist and an independent gallery co-owner, where me and my team look after a family of 17 artists practicing all kinds of art forms – from felting and sculpture to drawing and fine art. We are very active on Etsy alongside our own website and it has brought us many clients who have become regulars. Through the Etsy Manchester team I have gotten to know many incredibly talented makers and it is my pleasure to curate this years luxury gift list.

So here goes:

An elegant silk hair tie for your or a loved ones winter wedding. It can be customised too, making it a very precious keepsake. Available from Six Stories.

Complementing the above, you can’t go wrong choosing this delicate and beautifully balanced piece by SaskiasSassyStore. Beautiful gemstones and silver – great for any age. Unleash your inner mermaid 🙂

A keepsake should be irreplaceable and personal and this modern nod to Victoriana certainly delivers – real pressed flowers in a glass frame, small enough to display anywhere. Created by Flora and Fauna by Kitty.

These you might want to gift just so you can “share”… Award winning handmade Christmas chocolate selection, just beautifully crafted by Eponine Chocolate.

Ceramics make such a beautiful and useful gift and Nicola Briggs Ceramics have caught my attention – beautifully gentle pastel blues with a contrasting platinum rim this bowl is a stunning achievement. She also makes ceramic art and jewellery.

Onto my specialist subject now – art (mind you, you might say chocolate is also one :)). House Under The Moon print by Moonlit Press is a fantastic addition to a modern interior, gold and grey are highly complementary colours and the subject is both sweet and beautifully eerie.

Last but not least, a gift for that someone who has EVERYTHING – a Limited Edition from our Egoiste Gallery “Pink Punk” Marilyn by the internationally recognised Pure Evil. His trademark black teardrop has made it across the world.

Hope you enjoyed this selection and have a fabulous Christmas!
Baiba.

Christmas Gifts for the Gals

Let’s take a peek at Doodlesworth’s top picks of Christmas gifts for the girls in your life!

Hello, I’m Helen and my shop is Doodlesworth. I make illustrated cards, prints, badges and tote bags. I like to draw things to make myself laugh, I’m a bit of a geek and I love cats, which is all reflected in my work.

This list is titled Gifts for Gals, but a lot of my choices aren’t exclusively for women; they are just things that I like, and a good excuse to show off some of the brilliant things you can buy from Etsy Manchester members.

**CeruleanWitch** has a lot of great gifts for any witchy ladies. This Cthulhu Bubble Bath/Shower Gel potion bubble bath is my favourite, as it has been decorated with a deep sea monster. I also love that it’s made from 100 percent natural essential oils, natural colourings, and Natural Organic Castile soap.

**Flyttamouse** has lots of lovely wooden brooches, pendants and signs. This Fly Agaric Toadstool Wooden Brooch was my favourite. The detail is burned in with a pyrography machine, with hand painted colour.

**SparrowRoadHandmade** has lots of eco-friendly reusable gifts. The skull pattern is my favourite for these reusable Bamboo Make Up Remover Pads, but they have lots of other great designs to suit all tastes.

**Emily Lisbeth Jewellery** has lots of elegant silver jewellery to suit all price ranges. I’ve chosen these silver snowflake studs as they are nice and Christmassy.

**The Magpie’s Daughter** also has lots of unique jewellery with a vintage and antique feel, including these golden hoop drop earrings with deep red gem stones. Her product photos are so lovely too!

**Norseman Furniture** have a lot of very innovative designs, like this copper pipe wine glass caddy, you can carry a wine (or prosecco!) bottle and two glasses easily at once with one hand, which is handy for anyone like me who struggles with carrying a few things at once! It also looks great on display too.

It’s always good to get a really nice calendar for Xmas, and this A3 one from **JivePrints** is great for design lovers with their bright colours and bold shapes.

For art lovers **LocalHotelParking** has lots of unique, quite surreal and often funny hand cut collage art prints, including this ladies meeting called ‘The Announcement’.

Finally, pop over to my shop **Doodlesworth** for this cat tote bag which could make a good gift for any cat ladies out there!

Honestly, I could carry on much longer, there are so many talented makers out there in Manchester. Next time you are on Etsy, why not search for etsymcr? You won’t be disappointed!

Christmas Gifts – Stocking Stuffers

EtsyMCR teamie Lindy shares some of her favourite Stocking Stuffer ideas!

Hi, I’m Lindy, the potter behind Black Dog Pottery. I love to play with clay and my studio is in South Manchester. ‘Tis the season for giving and choosing that perfect gift for those stockings hung with care – I’ve chosen a few of my favourites!

Etsy is the perfect place to find handmade stocking stuffers. These fun and quirky gifts are a few of the things you can find on Etsy. Our Etsy Manchester crew have some truly amazing pieces.

Vegan is the new black, and a badge to let Nana know you’re off the turkey might be what you’re looking for. £1.50, Doodlesworth

The festive season is a time to have a tipple or three and these funky coasters are the perfect combination of retro kitsch. £10.00, Kitsch Republic

Nicer than what you’ll get in your Christmas cracker- this cute little cloud key ring is sure to brighten your day. £8.00, The Moonlit Press

A different twist on the Christmas satsuma – these orange earrings will surely be a talking point during lunch! £10.00, YellowThreadd

It is candle season and one of my match strikers makes a perfect gift when paired with a candle. These hand-poured vegan candles smell divine – pop one in the stocking and enjoy! The spiced apple candle will surely put you in the festive mood. £14.00, The Wilton Street Craft Co.

This gorgeous necklace will bring of bit of celestial intervention – might just be needed with all the family around! £14.00, SaskiasSassyStore

Christmas Gifts for the Guys

Need help finding the perfect Christmas present for the fellas in your life? Read on for some top gift inspo!

Curated by Christmas enthusiast and concrete homeware maker, Akaibi from PinkVine, here’s 10 awesome gift ideas for the men on your Christmas shopping list…

We’re all doing our best to cut down on single use items, so why not gift this functional and totally badass tote, that will surely never be forgotten!? The high quality surrealist print on this bag is from an original hand cut collage by **LocalHotelParking** and is also available as a print, if the man in your life would rather keep their art on the walls.

Perfect for the style-conscious bohemian is this grounding and strengthening necklace with texture for days! If your man prefers a little more colour, **Bohemian Drifters** has you covered with gorgeous natural beaded necklaces in shades of grey, turquoise and even wood.

For that one man on your list who’s out by the side of a lake more than he’s at home, bring some of that passion indoors. This embellished giclée print is from an original Jan Vallance painting and comes ready to display. If you love the style but fishing isn’t the vibe, **The Art Boat** has plenty of other outdoor scenes and animals to choose from.

Just because it’s Christmas, doesn’t mean you need to run for the staple box-sets from a chain store. These gorgeous soap bars will keep your main man smelling gorgeous, with tropical fruit notes that will wash away any negativity and get him ready to take on the day. Want even more positive vibes? **The Crystal Soapery** also offer soap bars containing real crystals for an extra keepsake.

Shopping for someone you love to Facetime? Or perhaps someone who is always cooking the latest recipe they found online? This modern yet charming phone stand by **Norseman Furniture** could be the perfect gift to remedy all those awkward attempts at balancing their handset. Top tip: They also sell one for tablets!

Do you know someone who deserves something truly one of a kind? These seaglass cufflinks look so different in all lights and will catch people’s eyes on every outing but will never be truly replicated. If you’re shopping for someone who’d like something more pared back, check out some of the silver cufflinks in **Emily Lisbeth**’s store.

Drawing out the beauty in the mundane is this sparse black and white print from **Helena Lee Studios**. This one is perfect for the man who is proud of where he comes from but won’t be found blaring Oasis out on the daily! If you’re buying for more of a country mouse, check out the range of botanical prints instead.

Perfect for a new freelancer or the guy whose desk is eternally cluttered, this set has a handy tray along with three clips perfect for photos, to-do lists or expenses receipts. If he’s got that covered, check out **PinkVine**’s coaster sets, perfect for G&Ts, beers and brews.

What’s better than a brand new leather wallet that will age beautifully with you? This eye-catching and clean lined red leather wallet by **Blind Leather** has a beautifully simple and yet thought out design. You can also choose between yellow and black thread to suit the recipient’s style. Red not his colour? Blind Leather has a great range of shades (and styles) in their shop from pale tans, through to rich greens.

For the ideas man who loves to jot things down, this felt –covered notebook comes with two handmade notebook inserts with varying papers for all kinds of concepts – and comes with a pencil too. If they’re more of a digital guy, why not go for a **Jonesy Inc.** hand stitched scarf instead?

Back to School

EtsyMCR teamie Mary Sonja Tudor chooses her fave Back to School, College or Uni goodies to make the new term a bit more fun!

Heya! I’m Mary, the owner, designer, maker and everything else over at Mary’s Jewellery Bakery! I’ve always had a love for cake and cats, but I’ve only started displaying it through my crafts earlier this year. I like to work with resin, polymer clay and dollhouse furniture to create unusual and kawaii jewellery, inspired by the Harajuku fashion.

Among many other things, I also love stationery! When this month’s gift guide’s theme came up, I just had to get involved! Here are my top picks for amazing Back to School gifts for kids, teens, university students and anyone who is stationery crazy!

The most important thing as a student is to stay on track! Keep track of your daily tasks with ByNikomi’s planners – a great way to **bee** organized! 🙂

Don’t forget to be kind to yourself, though! A great way of combining both, the Need to Do – Nice to Do notepad from TheMoonlitPress allows for an easy way of treating yourself every so often.

Often overlooked and yet so important, a soon-to-be favourite cup is one of the first items you’ll reach for in the morning! Whether it’s filled with coffee or tea, this warm autumn design from BetulSalmanArt is bound to start your day with a hefty dose of beauty. (It’s also perfect for drinking home-made pumpkin spice lattes! *sips*)

For those with a serious sweet tooth, ReconsideredRetro’s hand-drawn notebooks will make a nostalgia-filled gift!

An ideal way to make sure you never lose your pens again, this strappy pen holder from PumpkinAndPeas is perfect for any A5 sized notebook!

“But how will I carry all these amazing goodies?!”, I telepathically hear you say. In one of giflynndesign’s custom hand-painted backpacks, of course! They also make being away from your pets a little easier. 🙂

And for days when a couple notepads and a pen will suffice? Stand out with LocalHotelParking’s art collage tote bags!

Always carry around a little positivity with personalized pencils from WinniesWorldOfWonder – also a great way to ensure your pencils don’t mysteriously go missing…

Keep your room as cosy and stress-free as possible with an adorable print from MantraAndMoon!

Or, if your life is all about sugar, surround yourself with not one, not two, but a set of THREE kawaii food prints from the Pastel Goth Princess, SophieMayde!

Celebrate Pride Season with EtsyMCR

In celebration of Pride Month, Team Leader Saskia Wrycroft aka SaskiasSassyStore has curated her first Gift Guide, showcasing a few of the many talented makers in our beautifully diverse Etsy Team. EtsyMCR is proud to have many LGBTQ+ Members. We’d like to wish you a very happy Pride!

Rainbow & Co Pride t-shirt — Wear your Pride on your Pocket with this t-shirt from Rainbow & Co.

*Celebrate the 50th Anniversary with this artwork of Stonewall Icon Marsha P Johnson by* Cranfields Creations.

Choose your own rainbow from this selection of Flag Charms by Mary’s Jewellery Bakery and wear it for Pride – or, just because it’s a Tuesday, and on Tuesdays we wear rainbows.

Stephanie aka Bracken and Moss Design hand-knits these gorgeous tea cosies with the option of an adorable rainbow bee.

You might spot Jon Turner’s robots around the city. Now you can wear your own with this adorable rainbow umbrella enamel pin.

Show your Manchester Pride with this embroidered hoop by Natalie Gaynor Designs.

Look fabulous in these rainbow dangle earrings made by The Lobe Wardrobe!

Enjoy reading this risograph zine featuring a collection of historical love letters collected and illustrated by 2Bmcr.

Father’s Day 2019

This month, Lars from Norseman Furniture chooses some of his favourite Father’s Day gifts made by the EtsyMCR team!

Hi my name is Lars, I am a father of two and I am currently in my second year of business with Norseman Furniture where I make bespoke industrial style furniture and homeware.

I have been asked to put together a Father’s Day gift guide, with some unique ideas from our talented EtsyMCR teammates.

So, what do you get for a Dad other than socks? As a father myself, I have tried to look at this based on gifts that would make me smile. So, let’s get started.

First things first, you need to buy a card, and this one from BeckyBygone made me chuckle.

For the craft beer lover, I think these coasters from BeardyBearByKPD would go down a treat.

For the Executive Dad, I think these personalised cufflinks from OMGoshShop would definitely put a smile on his face and may even bring a tear to his eye.

For the Techy/Geeky/Sci-fi Dad, this Cyberpunk trinket dish with circuit board impressions from BlueButterflyCrafts should get some use, even if it is to keep spare computer components in.

For the designer Dad, this Marbled Geometric Wall Clock from Misshandled will get pride of place. I should know, I have one myself.

What Dad doesn’t like baked beans? I know beans on toast is my go-to quick meal fix, so this candle in a baked beans tin from McPoodleShop should light him up.

For the Dad who’s into his exotic pets or generally just loves spiders, this cute needle felted jumping spider from Noseytoescreations should get pride of place. He may also enjoy pranking spider haters with it.

For the art-loving Dad, this handmade linocut art print by HabitatsPrintStudio features buildings that can be found around the Manchester area. Due to the way these prints are produced, each one is unique.

For the music-loving Dad, this detailed print of the history of Manchester Music from TheSenseOfDoubt should make him happy.

This recycled copper wrap bracelet stamped with song lyrics by CCartistmaker would be worn with pride.

Finally, for the Manc Dad, this Manchester Quote Phrase Dictionary print by ShookNorth will keep him entertained as well as looking great on the wall.

Easter Treats

This month, EtsyMCR teamie Sophiemay shares her top Easter picks

Hi everyone! I’m Sophiemay of Sophiemayde (get it?), I do a bunch of things from embroideries, to portrait stitches, to illustrations, to lettering. I love being able to be creative in pretty much any medium I can! I’ve been given the opportunity to put together a list of all the excellent Easter Treats my fellow Etsy Manchester teamies have to offer.

Easter for me is all about chocolate, bunnies and lovely colourful flowers, so I’ve put together all things Easter but it’s also heavy on these particular aspects of what I associate Easter with!

What better way to kick this off than an edible Bunny cake topper by MariesBakehouse? How perfect would this look on a delicious carrot cake?

If you happen to love brooches and pins as much as me, then you’ll love this Wooden Hare Brooch by stephaniecoleDESIGN. The perfect combination of bunnies and flowers in one adorable package.

How can you go wrong with combining fudge and mini eggs? You can’t. You can get your very own Easter Fudge by SugarChicFudgeToffee and have an amazing post-Easter dinner sweet snack.

Tulips are one of my favourite flowers, and this print by HelenaLeeStudios is just stunning!

Wreaths are the perfect all year round decoration, and this Knitted Easter one from ClairTdesigns is the perfect Easter decoration.

Having people over for Easter dinner? Want to get adorable and personalised treats? TailoredChocolates has got you covered with these Easter Peekaboo tins.

Looking for a cute, but still Easter-related tag to add to your Easter gifts? JanewayLasers has the perfect Wooden Carrot Labels, and you can choose to have them blank, personalised with names or with “Happy Easter” for that extra finishing touch.

Enjoy a good pun? Who doesn’t! Doodlesworth has you covered for Easter cards with this Good Egg Card.

Looking for a cute, yet functional gift to give this Easter? TasherellaKitty has the cutest Handmade Zip Pouch, complete with adorable duckling and floral pattern.

For the those that like hot cross buns, and adorable food based jewellery, MarysJewelleryBakery has you covered with these Kawaii Polymer Clay Hot Cross Bun earrings (and for those without pierced ears, there’s hot cross bun necklaces too!). The perfect addition to an Easter dinner outfit.

Our thanks to Sophiemay for her fab picks!

If you’re looking for more gift ideas, why not take a peek at some of our other EtsyMCR Gift Guides?

Celebrate your lovely Mums this Mother’s Day!

Our makers have been working hard to make beautiful gifts for every type of Mum.

EtsyMCR Team Leader Rachel, aka The Magpie’s Daughter, has picked some of her faves.

Gifts for Animal-Loving Mums

Your mum can wear her love of cats on her sleeve (or jacket) with an adorable illustrated Ginger Cat pin by Aimee Mac Illustration.

Treat your ma to a decorative Fox Pillar Candle from Simply Imperfected, which will look fab on the mantelpiece if she can’t bring herself to light it!

Foxytiles’ Paw Print Tile can be used simply as a decoration, added to a tiled wall or perhaps as a coaster for your mum’s fave mug.

Keep your cat-loving mum comfy and cosy with an adorable Cat Portrait Cushion by Kat Pearson Designs.

When Your Mum is Your Bestie

The “I Blame my Weird on You” Card is perfect for a mum with a sense of humour. (You can also ask maker Becky Bygone to customise the text if you have a Mam or Mom.)

Why not get your lovely mum a Clay Heart Keepsake Card from Clay on Words – and maybe treat yourself to a matching one too?

Make your bestie smile every time she sees her plant babies in one of these hand-glazed Funny Face Planters by Black Dog Pottery.

Make your mum feel extra special by telling her she’s the Only Pretty Woman with this Illustrated Card by Cranfields Creations.

Mums Who Love to Garden

Like its artist Helena Lee, your mum can look at this ivy-strewn window and imagine the world on the other side of the glass in this Fine Art Print.

Bee-loving mums will fall head over heels for a delicate Silver Bee Necklace by The Magpie’s Daughter, featuring a tiny lemon jade bead (also in gold).

Your mum will love deciding what to keep in Nicola Briggs Ceramics’ beautiful set of three Sky Blue Porcelain Bowls, with their gorgeous inlaid feather design.

Laura Charley Design has the perfect message for mamas who love flowers. Her “Thanks for Helping Me Bloom” card is one to frame and admire for years to come.

Mums Who Love Home Comforts

The perfect gift for a mum who loves her tea from a proper teapot – a Hand-Knitted Tea Cosy with bee decoration (choose from a regular bee or a Pride Rainbow bee!) from Bracken and Moss Design.

Your mom can snuggle up on the sofa to watch her favourite TV programme with this Pompom-Embellished Heart Cushion from Yellowfred Creative.

Lydia Meiying’s Woodland Design is available on mugs or coasters, but if you can’t choose which one to get your mum, why not get her the Matching Mug and Coaster Set?

Mum’ll love a little treat to go with her cuppa tea, and these almost-too-pretty-to-eat Hand-Iced Biscuits from Marie’s Bakehouse will be perfect.

Looking for more gift ideas? Search Etsy for our team tag: etsymcr

Valentine’s Day Top Ten <3

Check out these romantic cards and gifts for your Valentine (or Galentine!) from the EtsyMCR Team

Top Ten Picks by Team Leader Sally, aka The Lobe Wardrobe

1. Perfectly capture a moment or memory with a customisable card this Valentine’s Day! Simply send your chosen photo to the maker, ALittleMoonBeam, via Etsy conversations and they’ll illustrate it to create a wonderfully personalised card. And don’t be shy about getting creative with it – you could choose photos of your pets, places or objects – whatever means something special to you or the recipient!

2. Go down the traditional route with a classy box of chocolates this Valentine’s… but make sure you choose something extra special, such as the luxury Valentine Chocolate Box by EponineChocolate! These beautiful works of chocolatey art are skilfully handmade with dark chocolate and filled with salted caramel and hazelnut gianduja. You can choose a box size of 4 to 36 chocolates… depending on how much you love the recipient, of course! 😉

3. Sometimes we love each other so darn much that it’s just impossible to express ourselves verbally… so let’s share our innermost feelings via the unusual medium of embroidery! You can choose your own personalised message, so long as it’s short and sweet, and Sophiemayde will stitch your words by hand onto these little hoops for you to pass on to your partner, your Mum, or maybe your Dentist, if you think they’re really great.

4. Do you hate dating? But do you like your friends? If you answer yes to both these questions, then stop wasting time and immediately purchase these cards for each of your besties. Screw Valentine’s, it’s all about Palentine’s – which I personally think we should celebrate all year round! The vibrant design has been hand-painted by LauraCharleyDesign, before being printed to create A6 cards, which are left blank inside – ideal for you to fill with more rambling complaints about all the bad dates you endured in 2018.

5. OK… now back to items for people who DO like dating… we have these delicate little heart dishes made by BlueButterflyCrafts! Available in your choice of purple or red, these dainty ceramic hearts are perfect for holding tealight candles, as a place to store rings or other small trinkets, or simply to add a pop of colour to your mantelpiece or bookcase. Did you know that pottery is the traditional gift for the 9th wedding anniversary?

6. Inspired by The Great Gatsby, OMGoshShop offers these smart and sophisticated wooden monogram cufflinks, which are personalised with your chosen initials. You can even opt for 2 different initial pairs, one for each cufflink, AND you can choose Solid Oak, Walnut or Cherry as your choice of wood!

7. Clearly we think that personalisation is the way to go for Valentine’s Day 2019… because here we have another fabulously customisable option for you! sevenPMstitches will add your chosen names to this adorable cross-stitch pattern (PDF download format), which is ideal for beginners or intermediate level cross-stitchers. Go on – give it go – handmade gifts are always a fabulous way of saying “I love you”!

8. Say “je t’aime” with this beautiful print by emmycphotography! This 8” x 6” print features a view of the Eiffel Tower from Pont Alexandre, Paris, which is probably the most amorous location on Earth. The gorgeous, vintage-esque colours and dreamy architecture will effortlessly add a touch of romance to any home!

9. We’re a loving bunch here at EtsyMCR and would never condone you exterminating your significant other (or anyone, for that matter). However, we are very supportive of you affectionate-ing them, and recommend you do so by purchasing this adorable card by Doodlesworth! This card is A6 size, left blank in the middle for you to write your own message, and printed on environmentally friendly FSC approved card.

10. And now for those of you planning to make this Valentine’s Day extra special… we have this stunning proposal bear by AndSoItBiggins. Decorated with approximately 250 handcrafted roses and made to order in the colour of your choice, these bears are the perfect way to pop that all important question, and will be a lovely keepsake for you and your partner to remember the moment forever.